MILWAUKEE – It’s no secret that Milwaukee Public Schools have severe academic problems.

On a recent statewide exam, 51 percent of Wisconsin students demonstrated proficiency in reading. In Milwaukee, only 27 percent made the grade.

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In math, 41 percent of Wisconsin students were proficient in math. In Milwaukee, only 17 percent tested that well.

Approximately 28,000 students attend Milwaukee schools that have been identified by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as failing to meet expectations, according to news reports.

A total of 55 schools in the Milwaukee district were recently identified as candidates for state-imposed outside management through the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program.

All of that means there is something fundamentally wrong with Milwaukee Public Schools. Yet the people who produce the academic failure continue to make good money.

Some might argue that such a troubled district would never attract quality educators without offering high salaries and benefits. But others might argue that funding failure will only encourage more failure.

MPS Superintendent Darienne Driver is paid really big bucks – and more than most people probably think.

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In 2015-16, Driver was paid a base salary of $245,000, according to information provided by the school district.

She also received $33,000 toward a 403(b) account, $7,900 worth of benefits, and the district made a $16,433 pension contribution on her behalf. That means Driver cost the district at least $302,333 – $57,333 more than her base salary.

The 5,411 teachers in the district also made out pretty well.

They were paid a grand total of $313,067,477 in base salary, which computes to an average salary of $57,857.

They also received $54,806,661 in health benefits, which averages out to $10,128 per teacher. The district made $29,674,451 in retirement contributions on their behalf, which averages out to $5,484 per teacher.

With everything added up (including smaller dental and health insurance “opt out” benefits), the average Milwaukee teacher compensation package was at least $74,159 – $16,302 more than the average base salary.

The Milwaukee teacher handbook says full-time employees are required to work eight hours per day, and most public school teachers are required to work about 185 days per year.

Using that schedule, the average teacher compensation of $74,119 breaks down to about $400 per day and about $50 per hour.

It seems like Milwaukee taxpayers would demand a little more for that kind of money.